"a thoroughly impressive mix of jazz and rock to create a bona fide fusion of modern jazz guitar styles." - Robert Silverstein of MWE3.com
A creative musician with a positive and hard working attitude, guitarist Perry Smith combines his love for jazz with broad influences from rock and folk to create his signature style.
Perry is a founding member of the critically acclaimed New West Guitar Group and a member of the No Biggity Trio. Based in New York City he leads his own group, plays as a sideman with local jazz artists and has worked under legends such as Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, Nancy Wilson, Pat Metheny, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, and Bobby McFerrin. Perry’s extensive performance resume includes notable venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, Village Vanguard, Dizzy's Club @ Lincoln Center, Montreal Jazz Festival, Hoffest (Berlin), The World Expo (Japan), and Yoshi’s Jazz Club.
As a composer, Perry was a finalist in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition and won the 2006 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award. His debut album “Stars and Cars” features eight of his original compositions and Music Web Express called it "a thoroughly impressive mix of jazz and rock to create a bona fide fusion of modern jazz guitar styles."
In 2005 he received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Flora L. Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he studied guitar with jazz legend Joe Diorio and composition with renown bandleader John Clayton. In 2011 he completed his Masters in Music at New York University and was named the “Outstanding Graduate” in the Jazz Department.